Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut: 100% Walkthrough with The Pristine Cut

Here’s a Google Doc for the walkthrough I made!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bCuxVlnA4Lc4fzuoMkDqUyCgUZrfvWfrtbWW-u7ZVTI/edit?usp=sharing

I tried to put this all directly in here, but I got Failure Code 15 and the automated content check system keeps getting stuck… so figured I’d publish in this way for now. I have a ticket out to support, so I’ll move everything from the Google Doc to here as soon as I can 🙂 Hope you enjoy!

Achievements are noted in italics. Exact choices to select are in “quotes”. Then saving/loading management is {squiggly bracketed}. Steps are listed out with > arrows between them. If the guide doesn’t say anything specifically, choose whatever you want between each step. When this guide says Her, capitalized, it refers to the arms. Otherwise I’ll be careful to call the princess either princess or the chapter name.

There are many spoilers since each branch has very specific requirements to complete everything, but I tried to leave areas to explore on your own. If I got anything wrong, feel free to correct me in the comments! I have yet to finish the game, so I will be playtesting this myself on Twitch next week 🙂 Will update as I learn more!

Play through freely! No guides, no help, no saves, just make choices, make mistakes, and enjoy this wonderful game! Keep playing until you make it to the rolling credits after any ending with The Shifting Mound.

In this run, you’re guaranteed to get the following achievements just for progressing:
The Real Slay the Princess Starts Here
The Body
The Bloat
The Decay
The Remains
The Long Quiet
Our Song

Now that you know what the game is about, time to 100%!

In order to complete the gallery, you must end the game with each of the 22 vessels, and two of them have two ending versions, so 24 vessels. This will mean fully playing through the game a minimum of 5 more times. I’ve organized each set by a rough theme and will constantly be switching between sets to get the princesses one branch at a time. There are probably more efficient ways to do this, but this makes the most sense for streaming for me since it follows a bit of a narrative.

Set 1 – Meanie: The Specter, The Tower, The Adversary, The Wild (Curious), The Damsel
Set 2 – Violence!: The Wraith, The Apotheosis, The Eye of the Needle, The Wild (Scarred), The Cage
Set 3 – My Favs: The Princess and the Dragon, The Nightmare, The Thorn, Happily Ever After, The Grey (Drowned)
Set 4 – Stranger: The Stranger, The Razor, The Witch, The Beast, The Prisoner
Set 5 – Reassurance: The Moment of Clarity, The Stranger, The Fury, The Den, The Grey (Burning)

There are certain actions within each set you must take for the various endings:
Set 1: At the mirror, you must tell the voices “(Explore) Of course you’re scared. This is the end, for you. But it’s not the end for me.”
Set 2: Before saving, end on the most violent option for each princess where she has red outlined text. Embody violence.
Set 3: Do whatever you want, these are just my personal favorite routes that I’ve seen so far ♡︎ (not in order)
Set 4: Must start with The Stranger, otherwise do whatever you want
Set 5: At the mirror, reassure the voices to trust you and it’s going to be okay

Each of these sets will correspond to the equivalent save slot. {Save 6} is the temporary floater save slot.

——Tips——
Manage your save slots very carefully. When this guide says {Save 1} then save into whatever slot makes sense for you to be “1”, then {Load 1} means to go back and load it. This guide will continually override save slots that are no longer needed. If you’re like me and sometimes accidentally save when you want to load, I highly recommend saving in two slots every time (like both the top and bottom slots) as a backup. You are welcome to load back more times than this guide says if you mess up. Another tip is to save right before going back to Chapter 1 so your save slot will show an image of the last vessel you had, making it easier to remember.

For each vessel, this guide will not go into exactly how to get all the gallery images. See pokettomonster’s awesome gallery guide if you’re having trouble with any. Some memories and achievements only unlock after going through one dialogue at the mirror or when you reach Chapter 1 after Her, so if you’re missing something, make sure you’re progressing far enough.

If you follow this guide, I’d recommend following the first three branches in order (The Specter, The Nightmare, The Stranger) to start the 5 sets, then everything after that is flexible. It’s impossible to avoid repetition since there are so many paths and some things are only possible with certain Voices accompanying you. Remember to click Tab or Space to skip dialogue you’ve already seen!

{New Game} Chapter 1 > Don’t explore/question anything, just go to the basement with the blade and slay the princess. Do not investigate – she’s dead.

Right before leaving the cabin, {Save 1} > Accept the narrator’s reward and be content > The Good Ending

{Load 1} Hell no, get out > Chapter 2: The Specter > Pick up the blade

{Save 1} Be violent and stupidly aggressive > Heart-ripper > Chapter 3: The Wraith

{Save 2} Have fun with Wraith! Once you approach the mirror, {Load 2}. Repeat playing and {Load 2} until you have the achievements The Exorcist III and The Passenger as well as all The Wraith memories except the last three.

When ready, {Load 2} > Struggle then throw your body into the abyss > Ignore your voices at the mirror > Attack Her > “What happens now?” > “(Explore) And what if I don’t let you do this to me?” > Keep waiting > I Never Left Your Side > A Driven Heart and Chapter 1

{Save 2} to lock in Wraith.

{Load 1} to go back to Set 1 > Do Not Slay, be nice, talk > “(Return) I need to think on this.” when you get to the possessing option

{Save 3} > “[Slay the Princess.]” > “Okay. I’ve given it enough thought. Let’s get you out of here. [Let the Princess possess you.]” > “[Slay the Princess.]” > The Exorcist

This is what you deserve. In a black empty room looking at stairs, {Save 6}> Have fun with the harsh princess! Go all the way to Chapter 1 then {Load 6}. Repeat playing and {Load 6} until you have most of The Princess and the Dragon memories. You should be missing:
• Abandon a gentle companion to her fate.
• Welcome back! Life is all about taking the easy wins, isn’t it?
• Attempt to free a gentle companion on your own.
• Leave with a gentle companion.
• An empathetic heart.
• See through her eyes at the end of everything.

Also make sure you have the following achievements before moving on:
• You don’t have to keep picking the same option
• Wait wait wait wait wait!
• The Princess and the Dragon
• What Once Was One, Then Was Two

{Load 3} Be nice, don’t slay, and let The Specter possess you > “[Slay the Princess.]” > Chapter 3: The Princess and the Dragon

{Save 3} Have fun with the gentle princess! Once you approach the mirror, {Load 3}. Repeat playing and {Load 3} until you have the achievement An Opportunist at Heart and all The Princess and the Dragon memories except the last three. > Proceed to Her > An Empathetic Heart and Chapter 1

{Save 3} to lock in The Princess and the Dragon.

{Load 1} Time to finish The Specter! Repeat playing and {Load 1} until you have the achievement Hitchhiker and all The Specter memories except the last three. > Ignore your voices at the mirror > Be mean to Her > A Yearning Heart and Chapter 1

{Save 1} to lock in The Specter.

Back to Main Menu for {New Game} Chapter 1 > Enter the basement without the blade > talk and retrieve your blade > lock princess down there > Chapter 2: The Nightmare

{Save 5} Go downstairs then keep running > Chapter 3: The Moment of Clarity > You’ll get all the memories no matter what, so enjoy! > Proceed to Her > A Wise Heart and Chapter 1

{Save 5} to lock in The Moment of Clarity.

{Load 3} Get back to Chapter 2: The Nightmare> Enjoy The Nightmare! If you get to either Chapter 3 option or approach the mirror, {Load 3} and try again. Repeat playing and {Load 3} until you have all The Nightmare memories except the last three. Ensure you have all the following achievements:
• No Exit
• A Monolith of Fear
• A World of Terror
• Terminal Velocity

{Load 3} Proceed to Her in your favorite way > A Tender Heart and Chapter 1

{Save 3} to lock in The Nightmare.

You already finished The Wraith with The Specter, so that’s it!

Back to Main Menu for {New Game} Chapter 1 > “[Turn around and leave.]” > Continue leaving > Chapter 2: The Stranger > Keep talking to the princess until there are 5 fragments and you should get the achievement The Illusion of Choice and all The Stranger memories except the last three > Proceed to Her > A Rich and Vibrant Heart and Chapter 1

{Save 4} to lock in The Stranger as the first vessel in Set 4 > Don’t explore/question anything, just go to the basement with the blade and slay the princess. Do not investigate – she’s dead. > try to be happy with the ending > Past the Point of No Return

{Load 5} > “[Turn around and leave.]” > Continue leaving > Chapter 2: The Stranger

{Save 5} Keep refusing to go into the cabin > Denial > Anger > Bargaining > Depression > Acceptance > Just as you were once nothing…

{Load 5} See new options if you want > Reassure your voices at the mirror, it’ll be okay > Proceed to Her > Chapter 1

{Save 5} to lock in The Stranger as the second vessel in Set 5.

{Load 2} Do not tell the princess about ending the world!! > Enter the basement with the blade > Stay focused on the topic of slaying (don’t be 100% confident in slaying and don’t ask about her having a blade) > Focus on not dropping the knife > “[Slay the Princess.]” > “[Give up.]” > Chapter 2: The Tower

{Save 2} > Don’t take the blade > Don’t tell princess about destroying the world > “(Explore) N-no, I w-won’t t-tell you.” > “[Remain silent.]” > Refuse > Chapter 3: The Apotheosis

{Save 6} Have fun with The Apotheosis and Paranoid! Once you approach the mirror, {Load 6}. Repeat playing and {Load 6} until you have most of The Apotheosis memories. You should be missing:
• Carve into her divine heart.
• Gift a spiteful reminder to an arrogant god.
• Watch as the kindling of your soul burns to ash.
• You’ve been here before.
• A terrifying and divine heart.
• See through her eyes at the end of everything.

Also make sure you have the following achievements before moving on:
• The End of Something
• Courage and Madness
• A Goddess Unraveled
• A Window to the Unknown
• Grace
{Load 2} Take the blade > Defy and kill yourself > Chapter 3: The Apotheosis > Attack!!! > Something to remember you by > Attack Her > A Terrifying and Divine Heart and Chapter 1

{Save 2} to lock in The Apotheosis

{Load 5} Get back to Chapter 2: The Tower > Take the blade and Defy! Slay the Princess! > Godkiller and Chapter 3: The Fury

{Save 5} Slay! Be aggressive! > Quantum Beak > Proceed to Her > A Weathered Heart, Held in Ribbons and Chapter 1

{Load 5} Submit to The Fury > Reassure your voices at the mirror, it’ll be okay > Proceed to Her > A Weathered Heart and Chapter 1

{Save 5} to lock in The Fury. You don’t have all the memories yet but that’s okay.

{Load 1} Get back to Chapter 2: The Tower

{Save 1} to finish The Tower! Repeat playing and {Load 1} until you have the achievement Your Obedient Servant and all The Tower memories except the last three. > Tell your voices they should be scared at the mirror > Be mean to Her > An Overwhelming Heart and Chapter 1

{Save 1} to lock in The Tower.